Window construction



May 12, 1942. A. RAYMOND WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1959 Anion in Fig.8.

Ra "10nd.

Patented May 12, 1942 v v UNITED STATES PATEN orrics WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Antonin Raymond, New York, N. Y. I Application June 23, 1939:, Serial No. 280,868

2 Claims.

horizontally-movable offer certain and consider able advantages over the usual vertically-movable arrangements, and many constructions embodying horizontally-movable sashes have been proposed. It is significant, however, that none of these proposed structures have been adopted, in spite of the known advantages of the horizontally-movable sashes, the reason being that no practical construction, which may be simply installed and operated, has yet been proposed.

It is the primary purpose and object of this invention to provide a window construction embodying horizontally-movable sashes which will be capable of simple and easy installation and operation and which will embody features of construction not known to the prior art and offering considerable advantages over structures now dow construction in which the frame is formed in a novel manner in order to permit the sashes to be easily positioned therein. Another object is the provision of a support of novel form and arrangement and on which the sashes are positioned for sliding movement.

Another object is the provision of a window structure including rollers and tracks, which cooperate to permit the sliding movement of the sashes, and which are arranged in a novel manner and formed of materials not heretofore used for this purpose and which provide new results.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be made apparent by the following description and the annexed specification, it being understood, however, that such description and drawing are merely illustrative of the invention, which is not limited thereby or otherwise than by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar reference numerals refer to like parts,

Fig. 1 is an elevation View of a window structure formed in a manner according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the window structure, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, partly broken away, of the window structure, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, partly broken away, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The window structure provided by the present invention comprises a rectangular frame and a plurality of horizontally slidable sash members mounted therein. For convenience and simplicity of illustration there is illustrated a structure in which only two widths of sash are prol,,2 and the vertical frame members 3, 4, these frame members being constructed and adapted to support the window sash members for horizontal sliding movement therein. The introduction of air conditioning into homes and other building structures has made it desirable to seal the interiors thereof from undesired communication with the outside air insofar as this is possible and in the preferred construction described and illustrated herein I have provided two assemblies of horizontally movable sashes. Each of these assemblies comprises two sashes which are arranged in parallelismto each other and each of which is of such area that it covers substantially one-half of the opening in the frame, whereby such opening may be completely closed or half opened by proper positioning of the sashes. In addition to the sash assemblies '1 provide a horizontally slidable screen which is approximately equal. in area to one-half of the opening'in the frame, whereby any uncovered opening in the frame may be protected by screening. 'The window sash andscreening assemblies are disposed in parallelism to each other and are preferably arranged in the framein such a mannerthat the screening is at the outermost portion ofthe frame, while the two sash assemblies are behind it.

I The vertical members3,-4 of the Window frame are provided with interior, facing grooves ortracks, to be more fully described hereinafter,

within which portions of the sashes are receivedwhen in closed position. The upper horizontal frame member I is substantially horizontal both longitudinally and laterally. The upper surface of the lower frame member 2 is substantially horizontal adjacent its inner edge as illustrated at 5 in Fig. 3, and the inner sash assembly is mounted in this horizontal portion of the lower frame member. The outer portion 6 of the lower frame member is stepped downwardly from the level portion 5 thereof and this outer portion is downwardly inclined toward the outer face of the frame, thereby providing a rain-shedding surface. On this inclined surface there are provided means, to be fully described hereinafter,

frame.

Means are provided by the invention for sup-' porting the inner sash members and for guiding these in their movement in the window frame. As stated hereinbefore, two sashes I, 8 are provided in the inner assembly, each of which comprises a substantially rectangular frame member which is closed by glass or other suitable material. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the upper horizontal member of each sash frame is provided with an upwardly-extending tongue 9, each of which preferably extends along the entire length of the frame member to which it is attached. These tongues are received in parallel elongated'grooves l0 which are formed in the lower surface of the upper, horizontal member of the window frame, and which extend throughout the entire length of the lower frame members, these parts co-operating to guide the lateral movements of the sash frames. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the grooves ID are of greater depth than the height of the tongues 9 when the sashes are installed and the ,7 of the sash members IS, IT. These rollers may is attached therein. The strips of sealing ma.-

terial I4 are preferably formed of some non-' friction material, whereby the horizontal sliding movement of the sashes will not be impeded by friction between the Weatherstripping and the window frame members.

As stated hereinbefore, the sashes of the outer assembly, comprising the two sash members 16, I l, are supported for horizontal sliding movement on the inclined portion of the upper surface of the lower window frame member. Such supporting means preferably comprise elongated, raised strips I8, which extend in parallelism across the entire extent of the lower window frame member and the upper surfaces of which are curved to receive similarly shaped .rollers 19 which are attached to the lower frames vided between these elements. To effect this rear faces of these tongues are slightly inclined, I

of the lower horizontal window'frame member;

Means are provided by the invention for facilitating the horizontal sliding movement of the inner sash members, and such means comprise the elongated hardwood'strips [3 which are arranged in the bottoms of the elongated grooves l2 and uponwhich the lower surfaces of the tongue members H rest and. slide. The strips are formed of any desired hardwood material which is harder than the material of the inner sash frames and, accordingly,'is harder than the material of the tongues II. I have found that this combination and relation of materials provides the best sliding engagement and action.

' Means are provided by theinvention for sealing the aperture which is closed by the inner sash members.- Such means comprise elongated strips of material M which are attached to the inner side of each of the inner sash members and which extend upwardly into engagement with the lower faceof the, upper horizontal window frame member and which are, preferably, of such extent that they are bentby engagement with the upper window frame member, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These strips ma be attached to the window sashes in any desired manner but are preferably attached by being positioned within a recess formediin the upper, inner corner of the window sashes, this recess being then closed by an elongated strip 15 which the tracks are preferably formed of hardwood which is treated with oil, for example by immersion in a hot-oil bath, while the rollers are preferably formed of non-metallic material such as wood, plastic material or fibre.

The upper portions of the window sashes l6,

' horizontal sash frame members and which extend into parallel elongated recesses or grooves 22 which are formed in the lower surface of the upper window frame members, these parts being similar in construction and arrangement to the similar elements 9, ID of the inner window assembly. As also described in connection with the parts 9, [0, the grooves 22 are of greater depth than the height of the tongue members 2] when the sashes are installed. Weatherstripping 23is provided on both the upper and lower horizontal sash frames and is preferably attached to such frame members in the manner described for the attachment of the Weatherstripping I 4. It will be noted, however, that the Weatherstripping carried by the lower frame members of the sashes l6 and l l is so formed that it engages the inclined surface of the lower window frame member in such a manner as to not impede drainage over such inclined surface.

The screening sash 25 is positioned outwardly of the outer sash members l6, I1 and is preferably formed'and supported in the same manner as such outer sash members, and such supporting means will not be further described. As stated hereinbefore, only one. screening frame is provided, and it will be seen that this may be moved horizontally throughout the entire lateral extent of thewindow opening in order to screen any part of the opening which is not coveredbythe glazed sash members.

The window and screening sashes provided by vertical height of the sash-with respect tothe vertical dimensions of the apertures into which the sashes are intended to be placed. It will be seen, as illustrated in Fig. 3, that the window and screening sashes, when in position, do not extend upwardly to the bottoms of the grooves in the upper window frame members, as described hereinbefore. By reason of this construction and proportioning, when a sash is being installed the tongue on the upper frame member thereof is inserted into the corresponding groove to such an extent that the lower frame member of the sash completely clears the supporting structure on the lower window frame member, thereby permitting the sash to be easily moved into place after the window frame has been permanently constructed and installed. By reason of this, the necessity of building the window frames around the sashes, as in known structures, is entirely obviated.

Means are provided by the invention for providing an interlocking connection between the sashes of each pair along the vertical line at the center of the window frame where the inner vertical members of the sashes abut when the sashes are in extended position closing the entire window opening. As illustrated in Fig. 4, such means comprise interlocking extensions 30 formed on each of the abutting vertical sash members, the abutting faces of these extensions being correspondingly inclined to form a Z-shaped joint. It will be apparent that these abutting extensions limit the movement of the sashes to their extended positions and form a tight, sealing joint between the sashes by reason of the three-point abutment between the extensions and between the vertical members of the two sashes. Such joints are provided between the sashes of each of the pairs of glazed sashes.

Means are provided by the invention for sealing the connection between the vertical end edges of the outer window sashes and the adjacent vertical window frame members when the window sashes are in closed or extended positions. Such means are illustrated in Fig. 4 and comprise elongated tongues 3l which extend outwardly from the outer face of each of the outer vertical sash frame members, and which are adapted to be received in vertical grooves 32 formed in the irmer faces of the vertical window frame members 3, 4. These tongue members and the grooves into which they are received are approximately equal in cross-section, and the bottoms of the grooves are providedwith felt strips 33 which engage the outer surfaces of the tongue members, all in order to provide a maximum sealing eifect between the sash frames and the window frames. Although only one such sealing means is illustrated in Fig. 4, a similar structure is provided between the corresponding member of the second sash of the same pair and the adjacent vertical window frame member. Such sealing means may be provided, if desired, be-

By the window construction according to this invention, I have provided a means for controltween the window frame and the sashes of both 7 the inner and outer pairs. However, it is preferred that such means he provided only for the sashes of the outer pair, and only this structure has been illustrated in the drawing.

Vertical grooves 34 of very shallow depth may i v be provided in the vertical window frame memling the light which is admitted through the window frame aperture. In order to effect this, I cover the apertures in the inner sashes I, 8 with material which is translucent but not transparent. By proper adjustment of these inner sashes the amount of light passing through the window aperture may be controlled and, if desired, the translucent sashes may of course be moved to permit one to look through the window opening.

While I have illustrated and described the form and arrangement of certain features of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made in these without departing in any way from the. spirit or scope of the invention,

for the limits of which reference must be had to the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. A window construction comprising a frame formed of spaced vertical members, a lower horizontal member and an upper horizontal member,

. imately one-half of the opening in said frame, a

second plurality of relatively movable sashes slidably mounted on said outer inclined portion for movement entirely within said frame and each having such dimensions that it covers approximately one-half of the opening in said frame,

and a single screening sash slidably mounted on said laterally-inclined portion and having such dimensions that it covers approximately one-half of the opening in said frame.

2. A window construction comprising a substantially rectangular frame having upper and lower horizontal members and spaced vertical members connecting said horizontal members, the upper horizontal member having a groove formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, the lower horizontal member having a groove formed therein and extending longitudinnally thereof and disposed vertically below the groove in the upper horizontal member, a hardwood strip disposed in the groove in the lower horizontal frame member, a window sash disposed in said frame for horizontal movement therein and having upper and lower horizontal members and spaced vertical members, a tongue formed integrally with the upper horizontal member of said sash and received within the groove in the upper horizontal frame member, a tongue formed integrally with the lower horizontal frame member and received within the groove in the lower horizontal frame member in contact with the hardwoodstrip therein, the frame and sash being so dimensioned that the vertical distance between the bottom of the groove in the upper horizontal frame member and the upper surface of the strip in the groove in the lower horizontal frame member is greater than the vertical height of the sash, and Weatherstrip material carried by the upper horizontal sash member and engaging the lower surface of the upper horizontal frame member.

ANTONIN RAYMOND. 

